bir
[ˈbɪr]
The Indonesian word for beer is bir.
The word bir is used to refer to the alcoholic drink made of malt.
Meaning: alcoholic drink made of malt (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a cold beer, you add the adjective 'dingin' (cold) after the noun to form the phrase bir dingin.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Indonesian contexts, drinking bir is associated with 'bir pletok', a non-alcoholic ginger-based drink from Jakarta that mimics the foam and appearance of beer.
- In many parts of Indonesia, especially in conservative areas, mentioning bir in public or ordering it can be a sensitive social matter due to local customs and religious norms.
- The spelling of bir is remarkably short and consistent with the Dutch influence, unlike many Indonesian words that undergo significant phonetic shifts from their European origins.
Examples in context
- Aku sedang minum bir.I'm drinking a beer.This sentence is useful for describing the action of drinking bir.Tatoeba #8299887 by Bilmanda, translation #2895892 by CM
- Apa Anda mau bir lagi?Would you like some more beer?This sentence is useful for offering someone more bir.Tatoeba #4629582 by Bilmanda, translation #34839 by adjusting
- Apa kalian punya bir ringan?Do you have a light beer?This sentence is useful for asking if a light version of bir is available.Tatoeba #4449356 by Bilmanda, translation #3300366 by KiwiCreme
- Saya ingin pesan satu botol bir, terima kasih.I would like to order one bottle of beer, please.
- Apakah ada pilihan minuman bir di acara ini?Are there any beer drink options at this event?
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Adi and Indah are at a casual restaurant.
- AdiIndah, kamu mau pesan bir?Indah, do you want to order a beer?
- IndahTidak, terima kasih. Saya hanya ingin jus.No, thank you. I just want juice.
- AdiBaiklah, aku akan memesan bir dingin.Alright, I will order a cold beer.
- IndahJangan lupa pesan camilan juga.Don't forget to order some snacks too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beer” translations and entries bir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
